Liverpool tips approval for 400 homes at Wapping station and Grafton Rooms
Carpenter Investments is seeking permission for an extra 36 flats within its One Kings Dock Street scheme, while Equans’ 90-home Grafton Rooms redevelopment is also up for consent.
Having secured approval at the second time of asking in early 2024 for a 261-home development at the former Wapping Station, Carpenter Investments will return to face Liverpool City Council’s planning committee next week with plans for a larger project on the site.
The developer’s revised proposals call for 297 apartments at the city’s former Wapping station, an increase of 36.
The latest iteration of the scheme is also one storey taller than the original at 14 floors. However, there is no difference in height between the two versions of the project as floor to ceiling heights have been reduced. Like the first iteration, this version proposes no on site affordable provision.
Liverpool City Council’s planning department has recommended the project for approval and Carpenter will be hoping for a smoother ride at committee than it got the first time the scheme went before councillors.
Back in December 2023, the development was unanimously rejected by the committee over concerns about a lack of affordable homes, despite officer backing.
However, the following month the same project was approved when it returned to face its detractors.
At the time, Alan Carpenter, the owner of Carpenter Investments said: “I think there will be a sigh of relief across the development community.”
The development has been designed by L7 Architects, the developer’s in-house design team.
The Planning Studio is the planning consultant for the scheme. GIA Surveys, SCP Transport Consulting, TERM Engineering, Ensafe, CC Geotechnical, and ADS are also on the project team. Rounding out the consultants are Mulberry TMC and Kingdom Ecology.
Learn more about the project by searching application reference number 22F/2748 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
The Grafton’s historic façade would be retained. Credit: via planning documents
Meanwhile, Equans Regeneration is hoping its plans for a 90-apartment development at the Grafton Rooms will also pass muster next week.
A six-storey apartment block is lined up to replace the iconic nightclub off West Derby Road, with plans to create 90 affordable flats next door to the Olympia building.
Equans Regeneration submitted plans to Liverpool City Council to demolish the vacant Grafton Rooms building and breathe new life into the Kensington site in 2023.
The Studio RBA-designed scheme would provide 47 one- and 43 two-bedroom rent-to-buy apartments, to be owned and managed by affordable housing provider Sovini.
The Edwardian Neoclassical frontage of the former Grafton Ballroom would be retained and incorporated into the scheme.
The Grafton was opened in 1924 as a grand ballroom, before turning into a prominent nightclub by the 1970s. Having closed its doors in 2008, the property briefly reopened as a comedy club but has now been vacant for around 10 years.
Savills is advising Equans on the proposals. The project team also includes E3P, Clancy Consulting, Prime Transport Planning, LK Group, and Redmore Environmental.
Want to learn more about the plans? Search for application number 23F/1939 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.
This is good news, but reducing ceiling heights for an extra floor is not ideal. LCC should encourage them to kept the original ceiling heights and just make the building taller by another floor. High quality living spaces are key to sustainable long term communities, decent sqm and ceiling heights are two factors which are very important to achieve this.
By GetItBuilt!
Good news on both counts, I thought the Grafton scheme was in doubt but this is looking more positive.
By Anonymous
Blimey! They’ll be getting a nose bleed on Liverpool planning committee at this rate.
By Anonymous
Facade retention is is nice to but a shame there can’t be an alternative use linked through with the olympia for smaller touring acts. Going to be noisy living next to the Olympia, I can just imagine the noise complaints already….
By L17
Just allow the skyscraper scheme to go ahead now and i will be pleased 50+ story’s.
By Anonymous
@ 7.07pm re noise, surely you can’t move into a place near an existing venue and complain about noise, it’s like moving next to Anfield and complaining about the noise and the crowds .
In a similar vein people living in the city centre must expect a certain level of noise and human activity from bars, theatres, restaurants, etc.
By Anonymous
90 affordable units? But a developer told me last week that affordable housing in his new Liverpool development was not viable, and he was essentially building the whole thing at a loss in order to do a public service of filling in brownfield.
By Vincent Viability